Now in its third year, the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2023 Seed Fund for Creative Entrepreneurs:
- $5,000 First Place Dobson Entrepreneurial Excellence Prize: Fraymer (Demilade Olaleye) is a simple web app that helps creators make animated content easily without the need for any motion design experience.
- $4,000 Second Place: NimiMinds Mindfulness Kit (Liza Levitin and Ilan Levitin) is a child-focused, fun, customizable set of mindful books and cards.
- $3,000 Third Place: The Creative Kids (Ajay Woolery) is a platform, community, and source for creative youth.
- $2,000 Honorable Mention: Chlos (Chloe Lorenzo) is a styling + creative direction consulting agency and garment rental shop, specifically for creative productions.
- $1,000 Ample Labs Prize for a business tackling a social problem: Vulnerably Speaking (Lotus Tsang) is a set of prompt cards that have been designed to facilitate self-exploration, deepen relationships, or spark engaging conversations.
These individuals were selected by our jury of experts: Dr. Alia Weston, Associate Professor of Creative and Business Enterprise at OCAD University; Daniel Francavilla, Marketing Advisor, Brand Strategist, & founder of Now Impact Studio and ACCESS; Jaymin Luces-Mendes, founder of Toni Marlow Clothing, and Noire Now; Shilbee Dhalla-Kim, coach for changemakers, entrepreneurs and community builders; and Steven Lui, Investment Associate at Front Row Ventures.
We would also like to shout out the other finalists for this year’s seed fund:
- ARCH ACCESSORIES (Lily Li and Hussain Butt) specializes in prototyping and manufacturing custom hardware and trims.
- Birthed by Bracy (Bracy Appeikumoh) is an alternative lifestyle brand that mixes the sweet and the vicious. After all, you can't spell cute without C-U-T.
- Em Moor Documentation (Em Moor) captures professional images of gallery exhibitions and artworks.
- LeapoN (Niranjan Kaur and Nikhil Pawar) is the one-stop solution for salon and spa businesses to enhance customer experience and flourish.
- Luce Tooth Tattoos (Luce Ruttan) is a tattooer committed to offering an inclusive studio and empowering experience.
Thank you to our supporters for making this opportunity possible:
- RBC Emerging Artist Project
- The John Dobson Foundation
- OCAD U alumni and Ample Labs co-founders, CG Chen and Geordie Graham
Learn more about the CEAD at: www.ocadu.ca/cead